Northwest Historical Timeline

1941

February 14: NWA common stock is publicly traded for the first time.

Annual passenger revenue exceeds mail revenue for the first time.

1942 - 1944

Northwest carries out 11 major government wartime assignments, including lifeline to Alaska, bomber modification and a variety of special projects; employment leaps from 881 to 10,439.

Service to several smaller cities is suspended when the government commandeers half of Northwest's fleet. Northwest receives Army-Navy "E" for operation of bomber modification center.

Southern Airways applies for CAB certification to establish a local service air carrier in eight southeastern states.

Wisconsin Central Airlines is incorporated with the Four Wheel Drive Automobile Company as the major shareholder. Francis Higgins, formerly advertising and public relations manager of FWD, is named president. The airline begins a four-year battle to win an operating certificate from the CAB.

1945

June 1: New York service is launched from the Twin Cities via Milwaukee and Detroit, making Northwest the fourth transcontinental air carrier.

Bonanza Airlines begins operations in Las Vegas, Nev., with a single-engine Cessna aircraft.

Northwest adds its first four-engine aircraft, the Douglas DC4.

1946

Service expands to Newark, N.J., and Anchorage, Alaska (via Seattle).

Zimmerly and Empires airlines merge to form West Coast Airlines, headquartered in Seattle.

1947

January 2: "Inside" route to Anchorage is launched from the Twin Cities.

July 15: Northwest Orient service begins from the Twin Cities via Edmonton, Anchorage and Shemya, Alaska, to Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai and Manila.

September 25: First service to Okinawa.

Service expands to Jamestown, N.D., Aberdeen, S.D., and Bozeman, Mont.

The twin engine Martin 202 enters service.

1948

February 24: After a four-year fight to win CAB certification, Wisconsin Central Airlines begins scheduled service. The first flight: Minneapolis/St. Paul, to Hibbing/Chisholm, Minn., in a Lockheed Electra. All other "first day" flights are canceled due to bitter cold and widespread freezing rain and snow.

The "Red Tail" is painted on all Northwest aircraft for the first time, creating a trademark that becomes known world-wide and that continues in use almost 50 years later.

Service expands to Washington, D.C., Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Honolulu.

1949

March 24: Northwest begins the nation's first transcontinental all-coach flights.

May 15: Civil war in China forces suspension of Shanghai service.

June 10: Southern Airways' first scheduled flight takes to the skies. Southern Flight 1, with Capt. George Bradford at the controls, offers DC3 service from Atlanta to Memphis, with intermediate stops in Gadsden, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Columbus, Miss. Southern Airways begins operations with 39 employees and headquarters in Atlanta.

August 1: Northwest takes delivery of its first Boeing B-377 Stratocruiser. The large and luxurious double-deck aircraft features on-board passenger lounges for relaxation on long trans-Pacific flights. Northwest becomes the first airline to offer beverage service within the U.S. on the Boeing Stratocruiser.